BYRON — Pecatonica, one of the smallest Class 2A teams in the state, looked even smaller after Rockford Christian got 6-foot-5 senior center Emily Nylen back for only the fifth game this year.

“That’s not fair,” coach Paul Waitkoss said with a rueful smile after a 56-39 loss Monday in the first round of the Byron Regional.

Nylen had 10 points, six rebounds and three blocked shots, playing three to five minutes per quarter.

“It was pretty much torture to sit and watch them play every single game,” said Nylen, who had surgery on her left knee in July. “Especially because we had a lot of close games. I think they like to give me a heart attack. I was going crazy on the bench.”

It was never close Monday after Jayla Penney (15 points) and Alexis Landquist (nine) combined for four 3-pointers to give the Royal Lions a 21-8 lead.

“There was nothing we could do,” Waitkoss said. “Nylen is so big. We have a 6-footer ourselves, but she’s 6-5. We couldn’t stop her. And then they knocked down those big 3s.”

Rockford Christian (17-12) grew into a 3-point shooting team without Nylen and now can play both inside and out.

“Emily is so tall, she draws so much attention,” Penney said.

But going to Nylen inside doesn’t take away from the Royal Lion guards, who love to run and shoot 3s.

“That’s what I was worried about most,” coach Mike McClellan said. “When someone comes back that late in the game, it’s always a challenge. Last summer, I told the girls we were going to learn how to play through Emily, and they committed to that. They we lost her and they did a great job learning how to play without her. Now she’s back and we’re trying to do both.”

It was the third year in a row that Pecatonica (14-15, 8-5 in the NUIC East) made noticeable improvement. The Indians had a four-year record of 15-87 (7-43) before improving to 9-16 and then 11-14 the past two years. Next year, they will return three starters, including Erin Seipts and Sarah Nyen, its top two scorers and rebounders.

“It will always be tough in 2A,” Waitkoss said. “We call the regional the Big Northern Invitational. We’re basically a 1A school playing 2A teams, but that’s no excuse. When the playoffs start, we need to step up.”

Maybe next year.

“This was definitely one of the best years Pec has had,” said Seipts, who led the Indians with 11 points. “It was a great season. And it was a great start. With three starters back, we’ll have a good program next year.”

“I love when it starts like that,” Johnson said. “It’s the greatest feeling in the world to go out there with that much energy and have that good of a start. When our team is going like that, it’s the most fun you can have on a basketball court.”

Lizzy Leden tied her career-high with 20 points for Winnebago (6-20), which had two sophomore starters on crutches.